Highly efficient ultrafiltration membrane performance of PES@microcrystalline cellulose extracted from waste fruits for the removal of BrO3− from drinking water samples

New mixed-matrix ultrafiltration membranes (MMMs) made of polyethersulfone (PES) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were created utilizing a nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) approach for the remediation of bromate (BrO₃⁻) from aqueous medium. The influence of MCC integrated on the contact angle, porosity, water flux, and BrO₃⁻ adsorption performance was also examined. The addition of MCC, up to 5 wt%, resulted in a significant decline in the contact angle from 60.1° of neat PES to 43.1°, indicating an increase in membrane hydrophilicity. Moreover, MCC incorporation at 1, 3, and 5 wt% concentrations led to an enhancement in the water flux to 169, 178, and 180 L m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively, indicating the improved membrane permeability. MCC-integrated PES membranes exhibited enhanced antifouling properties, as demonstrated by the achieved high flux recovery ratio (99%) of the 5% MCC-containing membrane. Furthermore, all MCC-integrated PES membranes exhibited superior performance in the removal of bromate ions (BrO₃⁻), with rejection rates of 60.8%, 80.2%, and 92% for 1%, 3%, and 5% MCC, respectively, which was much greater than that of the virgin PES membrane.